Japan signs nuclear pact with Kazakhstan

TOKYO, March 2 (Reuters) - Japan on Tuesday signed a nuclear
pact with Kazakhstan, allowing it to obtain stable supplies of
uranium in exchange for nuclear technology.

It follows a nuclear supply deal with Russia last year that
will enable trade in technology and uranium while addressing
proliferation issues. [ID:nT165017]

Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power Co (9503.T), trading
house Sumitomo Corp (8053.T) and Tokyo-based Nuclear Fuel
Industries Ltd in 2007 signed an accord with Kazakh state-owned
nuclear firm Kazatomprom on cooperation in uranium processing to
fuel Kansai's nuclear power plants.

Kazakhstan, which became the world's largest uranium producer
last year and has been responsible for the bulk of global output
growth in the last few years, will produce 18,000 tonnes of
uranium in 2010, Kazatomprom said in December. [ID:nLDE5BT046]

Japan relies on nuclear power for about a quarter of its
electricity and plans to increase production as part of plans to
cut carbon emissions to combat climate change.
(Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)